Nodding Spurge

Nodding Spurge, Spotted Spurge

Euphorbia nutans Lag.

[also called Chamaesyce nutans (Lag.) Small]

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

▲ young plant

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ ▼ close-up of stems and leaves

▲ ▼ close up of stems

▲ ▼ mature, flowering plants

▲ flowers, fruit and leaves

▲ mature flowering plant

▲ nodding spurge plant with purple spots on leaves

Nodding Spurge:

summer annual plant, growing 10-30" tall with arching branches
leaves oval, usually with some hairs, and with small teeth along margins
sometimes leaves are spotted, so sometimes this is called spotted spurge, but a prostrate spurge species is also called spotted spurge
similar hyssopleaf sandmat or hyssop spurge, has larger flower clusters and smaller leaves with less teeth and hairs on the leaves
has milky sap if stems or leaves are broken
found in cultivated fields, pastures, roadsides, gardens, non-crop areas